Olympic Barbells

The Olympic bar is a simple yet effective weapon in the war of strength training. Barbell training has made a resurgence in the gym scene, as many have returned to the traditional compound movements such as the bench press, squat, and deadlift.

With this resurgence, we now have a wide variety of barbells available to us. We may come across weightlifting barbells, powerlifting barbells, or deadlifting barbells. They developed each with the optimal weightlifting technique specifications fit to one or a few exercises.

What Types of Barbells Are There?

While barbells may appear similar, there are many distinct differences that separate one barbell from another. You want to understand these differences before choosing an Olympic barbell.

Weight of the Barbell

The standard Olympic bar has a weight of 44 pounds. This is the weight used in male Olympic weightlifting competition. But you should not assume that a barbell weighs 44 pounds. Using lighter weight barbells is for a beginning lifter or for smaller muscle group exercises. A lighter weight barbell may also exist because it is made of lower quality materials. At Better Body Sports, we only carry the lighter weight barbells that are intended to be used as a beginning bar, women’s bar, or youth barbell.

Diameter of the Barbell Sleeve

Since Olympic weight plates are the most common weights available, most barbells have a 2-inch sleeve, making them the right fit for Olympic plates. However, there are still some 1-inch sleeves out there which are known as the standard bars, even though it is no longer the popular choice.

Length of the Barbell

The standard barbell length is seven feet, but you will find barbells that are six feet or shorter. These shorter barbells make balancing the bar less of a problem for those who are just beginning a weightlifting program. They are also a good choice for smaller muscle group exercises such as triceps extensions.

Diameter of the Barbell Shaft

Understanding the thickness of the barbell shaft will give you an idea of how your grip will feel on the bar. Having smaller hands and using a thick barbell shaft may make performing exercises such as the deadlift a more challenging task. Many commercial gyms and some home gym setups will have several barbells in their gym for this very reason.

Location and Roughness of the Barbell Knurling

Knurling helps the bar from slipping off of your back or out of your hands. A barbell will have a specific knurling location and intensity. You will typically find knurling marks at the center of the bar and at a width where you would typically grip a barbell. Manufacturers commonly leave Knurl marks out of the spot where you would rack a barbell to prevent from scuffing the j-cups.

Weight Capacity of the Barbell

Many barbells now come with an unreachable weight capacity of 1000 or 1500 pounds. These numbers may be more than we will ever need, but in this case, it is better to be safe than sorry. We do not advise that you purchase a barbell near your weight capacity but choose one that you know will not break during a lift.

Tensile Strength of the Barbell

Tensile strength is another way that we can determine the safety of a bar when used repetitively for heavy weights. Since many Olympic lifts move weight quickly, there is a greater demand placed upon the barbell. The higher the tensile strength, the more weight a bar can hold before it breaks or fractures.